Chess Puzzle #9Xl31 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Rating 1779 · Advanced · advantage, long, middlegame, pin.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rook g1; bishop d3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/h5. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/d1; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 9 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Kg8 — king h7→g8. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Qh6 — queen d2→h6. Opponent replies Bg5+ (bishop e7→g5, gives check).
  3. Best move: Rxg5 — rook g1→g5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxg5+ (queen d8→g5, captures rook, gives check).
  4. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h6→g5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Qh6.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1r2/4bppk/p1np4/1p2p2P/8/2NB1P2/PPPQ4/2Kn2R1 b - - 1 20

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.